Electric railway.



W. B. PURVLS a A. DE W. GRITMAN.

ELECTRIC RAILWAY.

APPLIUATION FILED DEO.1, 1909.

. Patemied Nov.19,1912.

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WILLIAM B. PURVIS. OFSHARON ,HILL AND ABEL DE WITT isdispensedwith -VRai-lway, cation.

UNITED sTATEs PATENT oEEioE.

GRITMAN, or PHILADE.-

PHIA, PENNSYLVANIA.

ELECTBIIC RAILWAY.

Specication of Letters Patent.

Patented Nov. 19, 1912.

To all whom-alt may conc-erm.l l Be it known that we, WILLIAM B. Pinivis,

county of Philadelphia, State` of Pennsyl- Vania, both citizens of. the United States, haveinvented a new and useful Electric of which the following is a speci- This 'invention relates toV an improvement in electric railways and more particularly to the third rail type involving a novel form of conduit-v and current feeding devices,

whereby a constantly energized third rail a third rail that' the live third rail is a con- '.stant source of danger, and thereforegreat precaution must be. taken to prevent passengenerally' from contact gers and the public ing with the same.

' In our present invention we have-devised a system wherein the third rail is never energized throughout its length but only in certain vsectionsadjacent `a car at the time the latter is passingover the third rail,.that is` onlyga suicient numberof sections of third rail are energized -to supply the car motonwith ene'rgyjopropel the car and thereforeit is practically impossible for anyone'to be injured by coming in contact with the third rail.

It further consists of other novel features of construction, all as will be hereinafter fully set forth.

For the purpose of illustrating our invention, we have shown inthe accompanying drawing one form thereof which is at present preferred by us, since the same has been found in practice to give satisfactory and reliable results, although it is to be understood that the various instrumentalities of which our invention consists can be variously arranged and organized, and that our invention is4 not limited to the precise'rarrangement andlorganization of these instrumentalities as herein shown-and described.:

Figure 1 represents a sectional side elevation of a portion of a railway system embodying our invention. Fig. 2 represents a transverse section on line F1g. l. Fig. 3 represents a -plan of a modified form of construction.- Fig. 4represents a plan of a portion of the track construction.

Similar .numerals of reference indicate corresponding parts in the figures.

Referring to the drawings l` designates the track rails of a? system embodying our invention, the same being mounted, as usual, upon t1es2 and forming a road bed `of ordinary construction.

3 designates the wheels supporting the car body 4 and dapted to run on the rails 1, as will be readily understood, the samebeing driven by any suitable type of electric motor.

5 designates a suitable conduit, preferably formed of wood or like suitable material in order to contain and insulate a cable 6 which serves as a main feed wire for` the current to be supplied to the car motors. Attached to this cable 6 at suitable intervals are a.

pluralityof suitably insulated feed wires 7,

each of which terminates inV branches 8 forming a connection with the current controlling mechanism now to be described. This mechanism, as herein disclosed, consists of a plurality of cable sections 9, each of whichhas its ends formed by a return bend 10 in order to permit free expansion and contraction and of course it will be understood that the sections 9 are made of some suitable Vconducting material. Each section 9, in the present instance, is supported upon a plurality of brackets 11 formed of insulating material and preferably having a curved upper face l2 for the cable section 9 to rest in. It will be noted that the brackets ll merely support the sections 9, which are thus free to move in the manner desired to accomplish our novel result.

13 designates a hollou1 block formed of Wood or the like for the purpose of inclosing the cable sections 9 and their adjuncts, whereby a substantially sealed compartment is formed well adapted to prevent moisture and climatic conditions generally from affecting the conductors and the like. i 14 designates, inthe present instance, a pair of bars or strips offsuitable conducting material, secured interiorly of each block 13 and preferably above each cable section 9,

'these strips 14 forming the terminal of theA return )for a circuit of which the section 9 is the other terminal. It will be apparent if the sections 9 are brought into contact witha the strips 14 that the current from the main feed wire 6 will be supplied direct to the strips 14.

ln order to cause' the cable sections 9 to contact with the strips 14 in the desired manner, we preferably utilize a pair of magnets 15 carried by thecar f1 and so positionedfas/to be in alinement with the block conduit .13, and inclose proximity to the top of the same. lt will thussbe apparent, if, themagnets 1 5 are energized, that the .cable 'sections 9 will be attracted and drawn into contact engagement with the strips 14, the sections being acted upon successively as the car moves along the track.

It will be understood that the magnets 15 are formed with a double winding in order to4 provide for the initial energizing to raise 011e cable section 9, so as tol supply the current from the main feed cable. The iniconnects to a 'suitable motor and as the same forms no part of our invention and is of conventional type and wiring it is not thought necessary to"encumber the drawing with furtfieijg`- illustration. As here shown, the magnets 15 are mounted on an auuiliary truck secured by suitable chain connectio`ns 21 ,to the car body, the wheels of the truck 2O being suitably insulated from the carv frame. This feature'ol construction is important since thereby any car of ordinary design may be readily equipped with our magnet mechanism for cooperation with the novel track structures.

22' designates a third rail suitably mounted on a block base 23 in order to position it adjacent the shoe 16, and with which itis in contact when the car is in operation. lt will be noted that there is a pair of shoes 16, one being preferably mounted on either side of the magnets 15 so that the third rail 22 is engaged by the two contacts simultaneously.l Preferably these shoes 16 are mounted on a rod 16 adapted to be' swung around so as to position the shoes 16 on the opposite sides of the car, if necessary, as indicated in dottedlines, Fig. 2. .A

24C designates a connecting wire between the rail 22 and each strip 9, whereby the rail 22, which is normally out of circuit may be brought into the' circuit and conveythe current to the shoes 16. The third rail 22 is preferably formed in sections and arranged with two sections adjacent to each block 18, and one ofthe sections lies parallel to each strip 14, whereby two sections of third rail are energized as the car vpasses along and thus es tablishes a continuous supply of current. is each terminal is connected to a separate section of the third rail 22, energization of a length of third rail greater than the length of the car Yis prevented. As the magnets 15 pass over one block 13 the cable 9 is drawn into Contact first'k with one strip 14 and then with the other, the lattery being held in contact as themagnets pas/s onward over the next adjacent block in which the cable 9 is lifted into Contact with a strip 14 before the Contact is broken in the block 13, just passed over.

ln Fig. 3 we disclose a modification wherein the magnets 15 are mounted on a bar 5 which is pivotally supported on either end to the trucks 26 of the car, thus dispensing with the auxiliary truck entirely if necessary. It will be noted that the bar 25 is provided with suitable slots 27 taperinit iree movementwhen rounding a. curve,

and whereby the magnets 1.5 are maintained directly in line with the conduit 13.

It will now be apparent. that we have devised a l complete unitary electric system, wherein the danger of a ylive`third'rail is eliminated and in which tonly certain sections of the third rail adjacent the car are energized. as the car passes over them and at no time are more than two rail sections ener giaed simultaneously. It will further be apparent that by means oi "the novel sealed boxes and conduits the danger from moisture, weather conditions and the like affecting the feed wires or connections, is entirely eliminated. f l lt will now be apparentthat we have devised a. novel and useful: construction-*which embodies the features of advai-itagev enu-l inera'tedas desirable in the statement 'of the invention and the above description and while we have in the present instance shown and described the preferred embodiment thereof which has been found in practiceto give satisfactory and reliable-results, it' is to be understood that the same is, susceptible' oie modilication in variousQparticulars without departing from the spirit or scope of the invention or sacrificing any of its ad vtween said cable and each conductor section,

a sectional third rail disposed at one side of said casings and in parallel relation thereto, each section thereof. being connected to a terminal. and a conductor carried-by said car to engagesaid third rail. A'

2; -In-an electric railway system,ithe comrail connected to each terminal, and contacts bina'tion of a ...blocks, a cable tions of each section,

wheels on said truck plurality of sealed hollow each block, supports for each cable section,

- a main feed cable adjacent said `blocks and lnclose'd in .a separate duct, connections between saidmain feed cable and each cable Y section, apair of terminals in each bloclna magnet 'carried by a car and adapted to at tract said cable ysection to successively engage'said terminals, a-sectional third rail disposed in parallel relation tov said hollow blocks, each section thereof being connected to a terminal, and cont-acts carried by said car to engage said third rail.

plurality of sealed hollow section movably. mounted in leach block, supports for each cable section, a main feed cable, a sealed conduit for said main feed cable, connections between said main feed cable and each cable section, a pair of terminals in each blocliga magnet carried by a car and adapted to attract a cable section to successively engage said ter- Aminals, a sectional i.third rail disposed. in

parallel relation to said hollow blocks, each .section thereof being connected to a terminal, and contacts carried by said car, to engage said third rail.

4. In an electric railway system, the cour binat-ion of a plurality of hollow blocks, a cable section niovably .mounted in each block and having reversed end portions, supports forsaid sections, a main feed cable, connections between said cableV and the end porterminals in .each block adjacent said cable section, a magnetcarried by a car and adapted tobring a cable sec tion'into Contact with said terminals, a third carried by said car to engage said 'third rail.

5. In an electric railway system, an auxiliary truckdetachably secured to a car body,

and contacting with the track rails, magnets section movably mounted in n an electric railway system, the cour. 'bination of a "blocks, a cable insulated therefrom i I I I I 1 I I carried by Said truck, adjacent said magnets,

' engage said third rail` a sectional third rail shoes carried by said {caradapted to. engage said third rail, a Sealed conduit adjacent said third rail, a cable in said conduit, terminals in said conduit .connecting' the sections of said third rail, and means to close a circuit. v 6. ln an electric railway'system, a third raill formed in sections insulated from each other, a sealed sectionalcondut, a flexible cable section in each section ofsaid conduit, a. main feed Wire cable connected to said flexiblecable, a plurality of 4terminals in each conduit section insulated from each other and electrically connected with adjacent'third rail sections, an auxiliary truc-k secured to a car body, shoes and magnets carried by said't-ruck, and means to energize energize said magnets to said magnets to attract said flexible cable sections to bring the same successively into contact with said terminals.

V'Z'.ln an'electric railway system, an aux` iliary truck detachably secured to a car body, wheels on'said truck insulated therefrom and contact-ing with the track rails, magnets carried by said truck, a plurality of fonductor sections adapted to be moved vby said magnets, a casing inclosing each section and forming a water tight compartment, a main feed cable adjacent said casing, an "independent sealed duct for said cable, a pair of terminals in each casing above and parallel with a conductor section, connec- Lions between said cable and each conductoi section. a sectinal thirdA rail, each section thereof rbeing connected with .a terminal, `shoes lcarried by said car body adapted to vand means to energize said magnets to close a circuit.

WILLIAM B. yPURVIS. .ABEL DE WITT GRITMAN. Witnesses: Jonav A.-Wmnnnsnnnr, Hirnnrr.. DALTON.

Copies o this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing` the'fGomnissouer of Patents,

Washington, D. C. 

